Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 513

If you were to say such words in the White Path [a traditional martial arts school emphasizing honor and righteousness], anyone would take it as a provocation.

In fact, it was a provocation. However, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s provocation, which wasn’t really a provocation, was so common in the Black Path [a martial arts school known for its ruthless and pragmatic approach] that it was as natural as breathing.

Hwang Seok-Tae’s lips curled up slightly. He was a man with so little change in expression that even that small movement seemed to drastically alter his impression.

“I was curious how a White Path scholar managed to coax the Vice-Chief, but you have quite the audacity.”

“Are you jealous?”

Hwang Seok-Tae’s eyes turned cold.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled.

“They say that if a woman holds a grudge, frost will settle even in the middle of summer. But the grudge of a jealous man is so bitter that it can melt even the snow of midwinter.”

“…….”

“Men’s jealousy is sickening. I recommend that instead of thinking ill of your opponent, you try wagging your tail in front of your master.”

This provocation was far more intense than the first. Even Pae Yul whistled softly.

However, Hwang Seok-Tae’s expression remained unchanged.

“Your skill in running your mouth is on par with the strongest in Seongcheon.”

“If you mean the same thing, please express it as having many advantages.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was endlessly relaxed.

Hwang Seok-Tae disliked that composure of his.

“You once deceived the Vice-Chief.”

Hwang Seok-Tae remembered. No, everyone in the Mukryong Unit [a military unit] knew.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was a man who had come to the Mukryong Unit to spy. In other words, he was not to be trusted.

Especially for Hwang Seok-Tae, who had a strong loyalty to Yang Cheon, Yeon Ho-Jeong was like pus flowing from a festering wound.

“Whether the Vice-Chief forgives you or not is none of my concern. I do not acknowledge you.”

“Do as you please. Anyway…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong tilted his head.

“Are you not going to accept my spear? Are you perhaps trying to assess my martial prowess by using your subordinates?”

“…….”

“If not, then bring the weapons that are stuck over there. If you don’t want to be disgraced in front of your subordinates, now is your chance.”

The provocation was going too far.

Tsutsutsutsu.

Killing intent emanated from Hwang Seok-Tae’s body.

A strange light flashed in Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes.

‘Not bad.’

It was an extremely beastly killing intent, yet it was also perfectly refined.

Just by looking at the killing intent, he could tell. Hwang Seok-Tae was a strong martial artist and a capable unit leader. Regardless of the strength of his martial arts, if he could refine his killing intent to that extent, he would be able to maintain his composure in any situation.

For a martial artist, composure is a virtue. Hwang Seok-Tae would be strong.

“If I had my way, I would like to shatter your arrogant pride myself.”

“Does that mean you won’t fight?”

“Whatever the case, you will be staying with us for the time being. Whether I acknowledge you is another matter. Prove yourself in front of my subordinates.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong made a strange expression.

‘He’s a unique one.’

He was clearly a man who strictly managed his subordinates. Rather than a gentle and friendly superior, he was likely a rigid superior who valued rules and was strict with rewards and punishments.

Usually, such people are weak to provocation and stingy with insults. But Hwang Seok-Tae was not like that.

Since they would be staying together, he told him to prove himself in front of those who would be staying with him.

It was not an easy thought to have.

“Whatever, it’s fine. But one thing is wrong.”

“……?”

“I have no intention of training with you.”

Hwang Seok-Tae frowned.

“What?”

“The position I received is that of a special affairs adjutant. It’s a fancy-sounding title, but in the end, there’s not much to do. However, one of my few authorities is to oversee your training.”

“What?!”

“For the time being, I will be in charge of the training schedule and process of the Yongacheolgi Unit [Iron Cavalry Unit].”

Hwaaaak!

A terrifying aura emanated from Hwang Seok-Tae’s body.

“That’s absurd.”

It was a voice that he was trying hard to suppress. It was also a voice filled with so much anger that it made one’s hair stand on end just by hearing it.

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“Didn’t Baek Seo tell you?”

“I am the unit leader of the Iron Cavalry Unit. The training of this unit is the responsibility of me and the vice-unit leader. That is my authority.”

“So be it. However, as long as I am a special affairs adjutant, your authority is mine.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed his chin towards the Mukryong Unit.

“If you are suspicious, go and confirm it with the Vice-Chief yourself.”

Hwang Seok-Tae’s cheeks twitched.

Even though he was an untrustworthy man, he would not lie about such things. It was a matter of intelligence before personality. The Vice-Chief would not trust a man who told lies that would be immediately exposed.

But he couldn’t believe it. No, he didn’t want to believe it.

“A man who knows nothing about the Iron Cavalry Unit is in charge of training? Do you think that makes sense?”

“That’s why I have to show you.”

“……?!”

“I will prove my martial prowess to you. You prove the strength of the Iron Cavalry Unit to me.”

“…This bastard.”

He almost had a fit. Hwang Seok-Tae was genuinely furious.

And what stopped his explosion was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s aura.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had changed to a blank face, began to emit an unusual aura from his body.

Huuuuk!

If Hwang Seok-Tae’s aura was a cold wave, Yeon Ho-Jeong’s aura was a hot, burning steel.

That terrifying aura soon became a majesty that overwhelmed the surroundings and began to bind Hwang Seok-Tae.

‘……!!’

Hwang Seok-Tae’s expression changed drastically.

He could tell just by the aura. The man in front of him was a true powerhouse. His martial arts level alone far surpassed his own.

He knew the opponent was strong, but he didn’t know it was to this extent. He thought it was just a reputation inflated by the boastful White Path scholars.

But it wasn’t. The aura of Yeon Ho-Jeong that he had witnessed was so powerful that he thought the rumors were actually an understatement.

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled coldly.

“It’s an order from above. Disobedience is death.”

“…….”

“If you want to stop me at the cost of your life, go to the Vice-Chief right now.”

Hwang Seok-Tae’s eyes wavered.

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked to the east.

“By the way, I heard that the Iron Cavalry Unit has a thousand members, but you only called about a hundred?”

There was a group of people running from afar, raising dust.

About a hundred mounted soldiers shaking the earth. Even from afar, he could feel the powerful divine force of the horses kicking the ground.

‘Amazing.’

Looking at the Yongacheolgi Unit, he couldn’t help but compare them to the Uijeong Army, especially the Tangma Army [a type of cavalry].

‘At least in terms of supplies, the Iron Cavalry Unit is far superior.’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

He could see it even from afar. The members were wearing not only horse armor but also light armor.

If the armor was heavy, even the best breed of horse could not run at that speed. In other words, it was an alloy made by making high-strength iron as light as possible.

The Tangma Army’s alloy was also excellent, but it was no match for them. Even the vitality of the horses was different.

After a while.

Heeheeheeheeing!

The mounted warrior who was running at the front grabbed the reins. The horse let out a terrifying roar and raised its front legs high.

Pa-ba-bak!

They stopped their horses all at once with ghostly, exquisite horsemanship, and simultaneously got off the ground and bowed their heads.

“The First Iron Cavalry Unit greets the Unit Leader!”

“We greet the Unit Leader!”

The resounding voices were filled with amazing spirit.

Hwang Seok-Tae nodded.

“You’ve worked hard to come here.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong looked at Hwang Seok-Tae.

Having regained his composure, Hwang Seok-Tae spoke in a blunt voice.

“The other units have left for training two days away from here. The only unit training nearby is the First Iron Cavalry Unit.”

“I see.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong was honestly impressed.

“Amazing. They are properly trained.”

Even though they had received a return order in the middle of training, their aura was unwavering. Rather, it was as if they had been in the middle of intense training, and the aura that emanated from them as one was surprisingly fierce.

Hwang Seok-Tae said.

“First Unit Leader.”

“Yes, Unit Leader.”

“Verify this man’s martial prowess. If necessary, the entire unit can step forward.”

The First Unit Leader bowed his head.

“I obey your command.”

He didn’t wonder who Yeon Ho-Jeong was or why he was giving such an order.

He immediately obeyed the given order. It was the true appearance of a military unit that lived and died by orders, unlike the free-spirited Myeolsa Army [a more independent military group].

Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“It ends up like this after all.”

Hwang Seok-Tae’s eyes turned cold.

“Among the ten units of the Iron Cavalry Unit, the First Unit boasts the most aggressive martial prowess. Naturally, it is also considered the best in the Mukryong Unit.”

“It seems so.”

“The Vice-Chief’s orders are absolute. However, we have our own way.”

Kooong!

Hwang Seok-Tae stamped his foot on the ground.

Tiiiiiing!

One of the many spears that had been stuck far away flew and landed in Hwang Seok-Tae’s hand.

He threw the spear at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who had lightly caught the spear, swung it gently.

‘It’s a good spear.’

It wasn’t to the extent of being called a divine weapon, but it was definitely the work of a master craftsman. It used good iron, its strength and elasticity were appropriate, and its balance was also very good.

“Forget the ways of the White Path. The duels of the Black Path disregard life and death. If you don’t attack with the intent to kill, you will die.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong nodded.

“I like it.”

“Then…”

“I understand that you mean it doesn’t matter if all your subordinates die by my spear.”

Hwang Seok-Tae’s eyes flashed.

However, his voice was still stiff and restrained.

“A man who does not know the weight of a match cannot enter the Iron Cavalry Unit. From the moment we joined, we all risked our lives.”

“Good.”

Boooong! Boooong!

Yeon Ho-Jeong, who was holding the middle of the spear shaft and spinning it fiercely, pointed the spear at the First Unit Leader.

Tsutsutsutsu.

The First Unit Leader lowered his stance and gripped the spear with both hands.

Pae Yul and Gang Ryang stepped aside. The match had already begun.

The atmosphere intensified.

A chillingly burning feast of killing intent. The energy of the Yeongasin Clan [a powerful martial arts clan] was swirling at the tip of Yeon Ho-Jeong’s spear.

How much time had passed?

Drop. Drop.

The sweat that fell from the First Unit Leader’s forehead wet the floor.

Hwang Seok-Tae’s eyebrows twitched.

‘What is it?’

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s killing intent was certainly great. But the First Unit Leader was not so weak that he would be intimidated by this level of killing intent.

‘He’s sweating?’

Not only that.

Sreureuk.

His hands, which were tightly gripping the spear shaft, were sweating, and he was regripping it several times.

It was a sight that he had never seen in the First Unit Leader before. He was the most combat-proficient warrior among the unit leaders of the Iron Cavalry Unit.

Hwang Seok-Tae turned his gaze to Yeon Ho-Jeong.

‘What is he doing…?’

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong chuckled.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

The atmosphere, which had been heated to the extreme, suddenly turned cold.

“To prove my martial prowess against a single unit… this is not it.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“That unit leader already feels my martial prowess. And so do his subordinates.”

Hwang Seok-Tae turned his head.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was right. By now, the hundred or so horses were slowly backing away without even being able to whinny. They were overwhelmed by Yeon Ho-Jeong’s fighting spirit.

‘What?!’

Hwang Seok-Tae couldn’t understand.

Without him even noticing, he had been pressuring them all with his aura? How?!

Yeon Ho-Jeong lowered his spear.

“I have proven my strength, now I will see the strength of your Iron Cavalry Unit.”

He would see the strength of the Iron Cavalry Unit, not just the First Unit.

Hwang Seok-Tae’s face contorted.

“What nonsense…!”

That was when it happened.

Kwaaang!

With a tremendous explosion, Yeon Ho-Jeong charged towards Hwang Seok-Tae.

Hwang Seok-Tae’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

‘This!’

He quickly drew his military sword from his waist.

But.

‘……?!’

The spear that was being shot at him suddenly wriggled like a snake and went over the blade of the military sword.

Peoeong!

The explosive power that erupted from the tip of the spear caused Hwang Seok-Tae to unknowingly drop his military sword.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s stance lowered.

Ppagaak!

Hwang Seok-Tae’s face contorted. In an instant, his legs lost strength and he knelt down.

The moment he tried to quickly get up and respond to the attack.

Peobeobeobeobeok!

He didn’t even know how or what he was hit with.

Hwang Seok-Tae almost screamed involuntarily. His body, which had been hit all over his upper body, naturally bent forward.

And.

Cheok!

The cold blade of the spear touched the nape of Hwang Seok-Tae’s neck, who had fallen forward.

Yeon Ho-Jeong said to the First Unit Leader.

“I will give you twenty-four hours. Gather all the remaining units.”

The tables had turned in an instant.

From now on, it was Yeon Ho-Jeong’s turn to see the strength of the Iron Cavalry Unit.